All processes of gene activity are accompanied by alterations in DNA helical tension. Consequently, the double helix twists on itself, or supercoiled to remain stable throughout its length. This tension may be very high during the processes of transcription and DNA replication, since the two strands, always linked in the double helix, are forced to separate, in part or total. Due to the enormous length and the large condensation of DNA molecules in chromosomes, the coil voltage can not dissipate spontaneously. Read the rest of this entry »